Prince, the artist formerly signed to Warner Bros., has inked a new label deal.
The Guardian cites a Warner press release stating Prince will have the rights to the master recordings in “an exclusive global licensing partnership that covers every album released from 1978 into the ‘90s”. Prince left the label in 1996 after a long-waged a war with the music industry convention in the name of artists' rights. His dramatic decision to change his name to an unpronounceable symbol came about as a gambit to escape his contract with Warner and win back his mastertapes.
"Everyone at Warner Bros. Records is delighted to be working with Prince once again: he is one of the world's biggest stars and a truly unique talent,” said Warner Bros. Chairman and CEO Cameron Strang. “We are also very excited about the release of new and remastered music from one of his greatest masterpieces."
A digitally remastered deluxe edition of Prince’s classic album Purple Rain will be released to mark its 30th anniversary. Further re-releases are expected to follow, as well as a new studio album with Prince’s current band 3RDEYEGIRL, reportedly entitled Plectrum Electrum.
Prince has kept his fans keen in recent years with surprise performances aroud the world, including London and Manchester earlier this year and in Australia in 2012.
